Chicago Blackhawks CEO Shares Perspective on Building a Winning Culture with DuPage County Business Leaders

Regional Business Outlook

Approximately 700 Area Business Leaders Attend 9th Annual DuPage County Regional Outlook Event 

Chicago Blackhawks President and CEO John McDonough shared insights into leading a successful organization and building a winning culture before an audience of nearly 700 of the region’s top business and civic leaders during the ninth annual DuPage County Regional Business Outlook event on May 2 at the Drury Lane Conference Center. The annual event, hosted by Choose DuPage Economic Development Alliance, Mesirow Financial, and Ice Miller LLP, brings together DuPage County’s business owners and executives, government and education leaders, and other members of the local business community to learn insights about the current regional and national economic landscape, as well as to discuss best practices and growing potential in today’s economy.  

During his dialogue with event moderator Lisa Leiter, chief content officer of the Executives’ Club of Chicago, McDonough expressed the importance of making good hiring decisions. He also highlighted the value of cultivating a strong culture of loyalty, candor, and compassion within an organization, and building a team of people who will complement and enhance the company vision. 

DuPage County Regional Business Outlook

“The most important executive skill and the most underrated executive skill is hiring. If you don’t hire well, I don’t think you have a chance. You can have the greatest blue print for a really good course, but you have to hire the right people who complement and enhance what you have as an organization,” said McDonough.  “Consistently, there is a sense in our organization of purpose, there is a very strong sense of humility, and it’s important to be consistent about that.”

Prior to McDonough’s remarks, DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin opened the event via a video address offering a current snapshot of the positive local economic landscape in DuPage County.

“Last year in DuPage County, we had a number of significant new projects—companies that chose to move here, or undertook significant expansion projects and topped $1 million in investment, or added 20 or more new jobs,” said Cronin.  “Just last year, more than 11,000 new jobs were created in DuPage County, bringing total employment to over 655,000. Our employment base is strong and growing.”

Following Cronin’s opening remarks, Mark Peterson, president and CEO of Intersect Illinois, shared an update on the State of Illinois’ economic development efforts, noting Illinois ranked third in the nation for economic development projects last year while current competition for economic prosperity is fierce. Chief Global Market Strategist for Invesco, Kristina Hooper, echoed the positive forecast in her global economic outlook presentation. While highlighting infrastructure spending as the fastest return on investment to solve economic development issues, she also advised investors to be prepared for greater change going forward in three key areas including monetary policy, geopolitics, and disruption driven by technological innovation. 

DuPage County Regional Business Outlook

Overall, this year’s event highlighted DuPage County’s thriving business climate and reinforced the spirit of innovation and opportunities throughout the business community. Choose DuPage continues to promote the region’s diverse assets, economic strengths, and opportunities for investment in an effort to continue future economic development for the region.